Running

A midday run is the best solution to clearing up my mind when it feels bogged down or, as I like to describe it, congested. Sometimes I’m stuck on a problem and thinking about it while I run helps, other times, not thinking about it at all works, too.

In Boston, I run along the Charles which can be gorgeous on a spring, summer, or fall day. In southern California at my parents house, I look forward to pushing myself on the hills. And when visiting my parents house in Arizona, I take advantage of the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Tanto National Forest to run through some beautiful desert trails.

Stats

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Below I have some charts on my running statistics over the last few years. Since I live in Boston, my running is seasonal – I greatly detest running in freezing weather, so most of my running in the winter is when I’m visiting my parents in California or Arizona.

I strained my Achilles tendon on my right ankle in my last run in March of 2023, so I took off most of April with a single run of 2 very slow and careful miles, then eased back into running in May and June. Consulting with my podiatrist sister, the injury was probably caused by insufficient strength in my calves and tight Achilles tendon. My running style – I run on the balls of my feet instead of run heel-toe to reduce the impact on my knees – puts a lot of strain on these components, so I now specifically stretch and strengthen my lower leg.

The following chart shows my pace per month. It’s difficult to see trends here because there are several influencing factors, namely distance (I can maintain a faster pace over 5 miles than 10) and location (I’m much faster running the flat Esplanade along the Charles river than the hills of back home in California).

Favorite Gear

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Note that the links may break as new models are released and old models are retired. The links to Amazon products are affiliate links and I earn a small commission on items you purchase.

Road shoes: Brooks Ghost

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The Ghost is a tried-and-true model. I have been running in Ghost models since 2018¹ and have had no issues. I’ve experimented with other Brooks models and other makers every now and then, but none have been as comfortable.

The current MSRP is $140, but I have regularly been able to find them discounted on sales by Brooks, Zappos, or REI at or below $100. The previous year’s model is often available a bit cheaper, too. Recently, I picked up a basically new pair of Ghost 14 on their used gear site, Brooks Restart (supposedly there is some discoloration, but I don’t see anything).

Trail shoes: Brooks Cascadia

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I’m fairly new to trail runners. When shopping for my first pair, I started with Cascadia because of my success with the Ghosts and the similarity between these models of shoe. I would like to experiment with other makes and models, but for now I can stand by the Cascadia.

The Cascadia is comfortable and provides great traction and protection (I’ve stepped on plenty of sharp rocks and cacti while running on trails in Arizona). The toe box is a good width for me – I usually order the wide version of the Ghost and these seem to be about that width at their standard sizing.

As with the Brooks, the current MSRP is a not cheap at $140, but I can find them on sale or previous versions for closer to $100. For instance, I picked up another pair of version 16 for $70 in a closeout sale on Brooks’ website.

Watch: Coros Pace Pro

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My first and second smart watches were Apple Watches. While a good entry level running watch and a good smart watch for more general use, it is lacking in a few ways. As I’ve been running longer and longer distances, I began to hit the limit of the battery of the Apple Watch. Even running with the always-on screen off, I was finishing runs with 10% or so percent left of the battery. Also, I only use the smart watch for exercise and sleeping, otherwise wearing a traditional watch, so all of the other smart watch features were useless distractions to me.

Thus, I decided to upgrade to a more running-focused watch. After much research, I decided on the Coros Pace Pro. There are many great features, but here are the handful that swayed my decision:

1. Stellar battery life
2. Maps and navigation
3. High-accuracy GPS
4. No bloat from unwanted smart watch features (e.g., notifications, social media)
5. Bright, high-resolution, responsive AMOLED screen

In the end, the price-to-useful-features ratio was perfect for me. Many of the other offerings from Garmin, etc. are great products, but this fit my needs perfectly and at a much lower price. I’ve been running with the Coros Pace Pro for several months now and love it.

Pack: Solomon ADV Skin 5

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My first running pack/vest was a relatively cheap Nathan model that was on sale. It was a good starter to see if I was interested in using it for longer runs, but it used a water bladder in the back that eventually leaked (two bladders I tried eventually leaked, and the one the pack actually came with is very difficult to actually drink from). So I eventually decided to upgrade and look for a pack with front flasks for water storage.

I spent a lot of time researching various running packs and vests, then ordered a few and went to REI to try on the top contenders, and the Solomon ADV Skin was easily the best. It is very comfortable and holds to the body securely. All of the others had compromises on fit and function. I found it fits to my body the best out of the models I tried and, in addition, it was the only one with an accessible zippered pocket that could hold a cell phone securely. This pack is also sold with two flasks which usually retail for around $20 each, so that should be accounted for when shopping around.

Were I looking to upgrade, I would consider getting a larger capacity (perhaps the 12 L version) because they cinch down well when not full, but can carry more food and water for longer runs.

(I also have the 25 L Loris from Gossamer Gear that I want to try running with for my commute, but I am waiting for them to restock the belt.)

Shorts: Brooks Sherpa 2-in-1 Running Shorts

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These are very comfortable and have good storage options for holding keys, snacks, and other small items for those intermediate distance runs. The zippered leg pocket is build into the compression shorts, so it holds against the leg, making it comfortable to carry a phone.

Glasses: Goodr

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These glasses are great because they are relatively cheap, light, polarized, and stylish. The main selling feature over other cheap glasses is that they don’t bounce when I run. My go-to style is the OG style in Ginger’s Soul black.

Energy gels: Huma Gels Plus and Gu Energy Gels

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I have experimented with a few different options, and have found them all to be more-or-less the same. I haven’t found huge differences in how they make me feel during or after a run. The primary exception would be the Huma Gels Plus since they have electrolytes – these make a large difference on longer, hotter runs. In general, these all contain a tons of simple carbs that our body can easily use with minimal digestion. From there, they vary on flavor and consistency, so it’s work experimenting and seeing what you enjoy and your stomach tolerates.

More recently, I will carry a couple of Gu Energy Gels, but predominately rely on candy for simple carbs (I love jelly beans and gummy bears), bring salt tablets for my electrolytes, then other foods if I need more sustenance (e.g., granola bars, banana bread, nuts). I buy the candy in bulk and weigh out some into zip-lock baggies for individual runs. Overall, this is far cheaper than using gels and, on longer runs that can get monotonous at times, more enjoyable (I love candy, so this may be biased).